Burlington man allegedly beaten over gambling debt

In a scenario right out of the movies, a local man is accused of breaking into a home and roughing up the 66-year-old resident in an attempt to intimidate him into paying a gambling debt.

Neal E. Koch, 29, of Burlington, is charged with four felonies and two misdemeanors for allegedly kicking in the door of the victim’s home, punching him, smothering him pillow and threatening to kill him all in an apparent attempt to get him to pay a $4,000 gambling debt to another man.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Racine County Circuit Court, sheriff’s deputies responded to the victim’s home near Bohners Lake on the evening of Feb. 22 and found him “extremely upset, scared and visibly shaking.”

The complaint contends a deputy noted that the front door of the residence appeared to be kicked in as it was split and the locking mechanism was hanging out of its socket. A large footprint was observed at the bottom of the door.

The victim allegedly told deputies he was in his living room when he heard a loud “popping/pounding noise” coming from the area of the front door on the floor below.

He was then confronted at the door of his living room by two men and one of them – alleged to be Koch – punched him in the face and pushed him backwards, causing him to fall and hit his head.

The complaint alleges the intruders then ordered the victim to a bed where he was again punched and a pillow was placed over his head. The assailant allegedly demanded money, asked where the safe was and said, “This is how I can kill you,” as he held a pillow over the victim’s face.

One of the men then allegedly informed the victim that he had until Monday to come up with the money or they would return and kill him.

They also told the man they would kill him if he called police, the complaint contends.

The victim was later able to identify Koch in a photo lineup as the man who assaulted him at his home.

As of Tuesday, the other suspect in the case had not been charged.

Koch has been charged with attempted robbery with use of force, burglary of a building or dwelling, strangulation and suffocation, and aggravated battery on an elderly person – all felonies; as well as misdemeanor criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct.

Koch made his initial appearance in court March 14 where an official set cash bond at $25,000 and order him not to have contact with the victim or his accomplice.

His case was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Thursday morning in Racine County Circuit Court.